Mahanila, Mahānīlā, Mahānila, Mahānīla, Maha-anila, Maha-nila: 14 definitions
Introduction:
Mahanila means something in Buddhism, Pali, Hinduism, Sanskrit, biology. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.
In Hinduism
Vastushastra (architecture)
Source: Wisdom Library: Vāstu-śāstraMahānīla (महानील) refers to a type of temple (prāsāda) classified under the group named Sāndhāra, according to Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra chapter 56. The Sāndhāra group contains twenty-five out of a sixty-four total prāsādas (temples) classified under four groups in this chapter. The Samarāṅgaṇasūtradhāra is an 11th-century encyclopedia dealing with various topics from the Vāstuśāstra.
Vastushastra (वास्तुशास्त्र, vāstuśāstra) refers to the ancient Indian science (shastra) of architecture (vastu), dealing with topics such architecture, sculpture, town-building, fort building and various other constructions. Vastu also deals with the philosophy of the architectural relation with the cosmic universe.
Purana and Itihasa (epic history)
Source: Wisdom Library: Varāha-purāṇaMahānīla (महानील) is the name of a mountain situated at lake Aruṇoda and mount Mandara, according to the Varāhapurāṇa chapter 75. The Mandara mountain lies on the eastern side of mount Meru, which is one of the seven mountains located in Jambūdvīpa, ruled over by Āgnīdhra, a grandson of Svāyambhuva Manu, who was created by Brahmā, who was in turn created by Nārāyaṇa, the unknowable all-pervasive primordial being.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: The Purana Index1a) Mahānīla (महानील).—A Kādraveya Nāga.*
- * Brahmāṇḍa-purāṇa III. 7. 34; Matsya-purāṇa 6. 39; Vāyu-purāṇa 69. 71.
1b) (Mt.) a Parvata to the east of Aruṇoda;1 contains fifteen cities of the Kinnaras.2
The Purana (पुराण, purāṇas) refers to Sanskrit literature preserving ancient India’s vast cultural history, including historical legends, religious ceremonies, various arts and sciences. The eighteen mahapuranas total over 400,000 shlokas (metrical couplets) and date to at least several centuries BCE.
Ayurveda (science of life)
Nighantu (Synonyms and Characteristics of Drugs and technical terms)
Source: WorldCat: Rāj nighaṇṭu1) Mahānīlā (महानीला) is another name for Nīlapuṣpī, a medicinal plant similar to Aśvakṣurā which is identified with Clitoria ternatea (Asian pigeonwings, butterfly pea or bluebellvine) from the Fabaceae or “legume family” of flowering plants, according to verse 3.90-91 of the 13th-century Raj Nighantu or Rājanighaṇṭu. The third chapter (guḍūcyādi-varga) of this book contains climbers and creepers (vīrudh). Together with the names Mahānīlā and Nīlapuṣpī, there are a total of six Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant.
2) Mahānīlā (महानीला) also represents a synonym for Nīlabhṛṅgarāja, which is the blue/black variety of Mārkava, a medicinal plant identified with Eclipta nigra, according to verse 4.138-141. The fourth chapter (śatāhvādi-varga) of this book enumerates eighty varieties of small plants (pṛthu-kṣupa). Together with the names Mahānīla and Mārkava, there are a total of twenty Sanskrit synonyms identified for this plant. Note: R. P. T. claims he himself has seen its miraculous effect in normalising blood pressure and its rejuvenating effect.
Āyurveda (आयुर्वेद, ayurveda) is a branch of Indian science dealing with medicine, herbalism, taxology, anatomy, surgery, alchemy and related topics. Traditional practice of Āyurveda in ancient India dates back to at least the first millenium BC. Literature is commonly written in Sanskrit using various poetic metres.
In Buddhism
Mahayana (major branch of Buddhism)
Source: Wisdom Library: Maha Prajnaparamita SastraMahānīla (महानील) refers to the “great blue pearl” and represents a type of jewel (ratna), into which the universe was transformed by the Buddha’s miraculous power (ṛddhibala) according to the 2nd century Mahāprajñāpāramitāśāstra (chapter XV).
Also, “These jewels (eg, mahānīla) are of three types, Human jewels (manuṣya-ratna), Divine jewels (divya-ratna) and Bodhisattva jewels (bodhisattva-ratna). These various jewels remove the poverty (dāridrya) and the suffering (duḥkha) of beings”.
Mahayana (महायान, mahāyāna) is a major branch of Buddhism focusing on the path of a Bodhisattva (spiritual aspirants/ enlightened beings). Extant literature is vast and primarely composed in the Sanskrit language. There are many sūtras of which some of the earliest are the various Prajñāpāramitā sūtras.
Biology (plants and animals)
Source: Google Books: CRC World Dictionary (Regional names)Mahanila in India is the name of a plant defined with Eclipta alba in various botanical sources. This page contains potential references in Ayurveda, modern medicine, and other folk traditions or local practices It has the synonym Eupatoriophalacron album Hitchc. (among others).
Example references for further research on medicinal uses or toxicity (see latin names for full list):
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1993)
· Rhodora (1975)
· Proceedings of the Indian Science Congress Association (1992)
· Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society (1981)
· Glimpses in Plant Research (1988)
· Missouri Botanical Garden Report (1893)
If you are looking for specific details regarding Mahanila, for example side effects, health benefits, extract dosage, pregnancy safety, diet and recipes, chemical composition, have a look at these references.
This sections includes definitions from the five kingdoms of living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists and Monera. It will include both the official binomial nomenclature (scientific names usually in Latin) as well as regional spellings and variants.
Languages of India and abroad
Sanskrit dictionary
Source: DDSA: The practical Sanskrit-English dictionaryMahānila (महानिल).—a whirlwind; महानिलेनेव निदाघजं रजः (mahānileneva nidāghajaṃ rajaḥ) Kirātārjunīya 14.59.
Derivable forms: mahānilaḥ (महानिलः).
Mahānila is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and anila (अनिल).
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Mahānīla (महानील).—a. dark-blue.
-laḥ a kind of sapphire or emerald; इन्द्रनीलमहानीलमणिप्रवरवेदिकम् (indranīlamahānīlamaṇipravaravedikam) Rām.5.9.16; महा- महानीलशिलारुचः (mahā- mahānīlaśilārucaḥ) Śiśupālavadha 1.16;4.44; R.18.42; Kau. A.2.11. 29. °उपलः (upalaḥ) a sapphire.
Mahānīla is a Sanskrit compound consisting of the terms mahā and nīla (नील).
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Shabda-Sagara Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānīla (महानील).—m.
(-laḥ) 1. The emerald. 2. One of the Nagas. 3. A plant, (Verbesina scandens, Rox.) E. mahā great, and nīla blue.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Cappeller Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānīla (महानील).—[adjective] dark blue, black; [masculine] sapphire.
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Monier-Williams Sanskrit-English Dictionary1) Mahānila (महानिल):—[from mahā > mah] (hān) m. Name of a serpent demon, [Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
2) Mahānīla (महानील):—[=mahā-nīla] [from mahā > mah] mfn. dark blue, deep black, [Mahābhārata; Bhartṛhari]
3) [v.s. ...] m. a sapphire, [Kāvya literature; Varāha-mihira] etc.
4) [v.s. ...] a kind of bdellium, [Bhāvaprakāśa]
5) [v.s. ...] Verbesina Scandens, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
6) [v.s. ...] Name of a Nāga, [Harivaṃśa; Viṣṇu-purāṇa]
7) [v.s. ...] of a mountain, [Mārkaṇḍeya-purāṇa]
8) Mahānīlā (महानीला):—[=mahā-nīlā] [from mahā-nīla > mahā > mah] f. a species of plant, [cf. Lexicographers, esp. such as amarasiṃha, halāyudha, hemacandra, etc.]
9) Mahānīla (महानील):—[=mahā-nīla] [from mahā > mah] n. a lotion or ointment for the eyes, [Caraka]
Source: Cologne Digital Sanskrit Dictionaries: Yates Sanskrit-English DictionaryMahānīla (महानील):—[mahā-nīla] (laḥ) 1. m. The emerald; a Nāga; Verbesinia plant.
[Sanskrit to German]
Sanskrit, also spelled संस्कृतम् (saṃskṛtam), is an ancient language of India commonly seen as the grandmother of the Indo-European language family (even English!). Closely allied with Prakrit and Pali, Sanskrit is more exhaustive in both grammar and terms and has the most extensive collection of literature in the world, greatly surpassing its sister-languages Greek and Latin.
Kannada-English dictionary
Source: Alar: Kannada-English corpusMahānila (ಮಹಾನಿಲ):—
1) [noun] a violent storm with high winds.
2) [noun] (jain.) the air that envelopes the earth.
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Mahānīla (ಮಹಾನೀಲ):—
1) [noun] deep-blue colour.
2) [noun] a clear, deep-blue variety of corundum, valued as a precious stone; sapphire.
Kannada is a Dravidian language (as opposed to the Indo-European language family) mainly spoken in the southwestern region of India.
See also (Relevant definitions)
Partial matches: Maha, Anila, Nila.
Starts with: Mahanilabhrajaliy, Mahanilabhrajaliya, Mahanilamaya, Mahanilatantra.
Full-text: Mahanilopala, Mahanili, Mahanilatantra, Mahanilamaya, Mahanilabhrajaliya, Makanilam, Indanila, Mahanilabhrajaliy, Bhadrasoma, Sandhara, Mithya, Arunoda, Nilabhringaraja, Nilapushpi, Markava, Ratna, Guggulu, Kinnara, Mangitungi.
Relevant text
Search found 24 books and stories containing Mahanila, Maha-anila, Mahā-anila, Maha-nila, Mahā-nīla, Mahā-nīlā, Mahānīlā, Mahānila, Mahānīla; (plurals include: Mahanilas, anilas, nilas, nīlas, nīlās, Mahānīlās, Mahānilas, Mahānīlas). You can also click to the full overview containing English textual excerpts. Below are direct links for the most relevant articles:
Rasa Jala Nidhi, vol 3: Metals, Gems and other substances (by Bhudeb Mookerjee)
Part 1 - Characteristics of Sapphire (nila) < [Chapter XVII - Gems (5): Nila (sapphire)]
Part 1 - Characteristics of Bhisma-Mani (a kind of anti-poisonous quartz) < [Chapter XXVI - Gems (16): Bhisma-mani]
Cosmetics, Costumes and Ornaments in Ancient India (by Remadevi. O.)
1.2. Materials (e): Indranīla (Sapphire) < [Chapter 3 - Ornaments]
The Shiva Purana (by J. L. Shastri)
Chapter 9 - Śiva’s incarnations as Yogācāryas < [Section 7.2 - Vāyavīya-saṃhitā (2)]
Chapter 32 - Description of Creation (3): The family of Kaśyapa < [Section 5 - Umā-Saṃhitā]
The Garuda Purana (by Manmatha Nath Dutt)
Chapter LXXII - Tests of Sapphires < [Agastya Samhita]
The Agni Purana (by N. Gangadharan)
Brihat Samhita (by N. Chidambaram Iyer)